The more thoroughly you know yourself, the more likely you are to make impartial, objective decisions, businessman and author DAVID SCHWERIN tells POONAM K JAIN in Bangalore

Gandhi said a spiritual act is actually the most practical one. How does this fit in with your book, ‘Conscious Globalism’?If a thought or action is not practical, it is not worth pursuing for it will not lead to a constructive result. All truly spiritual ideas will eventually result in positive outcomes.There is a close alignment between spiritual laws and principles and socially responsible business practices discussed in the book. At its core, spirituality is based on the concept that we are all one and should treat each other accordingly. There is really only one thing in existence — God — and we are all a part of that One Force. Therefore, what you do for another, you in reality do for yourself and what you fail to do for another, you fail to do for yourself.Employees, who are treated with respect, are more motivated, productive and creative — they are willing to go the extra mile. Customers who are treated well are more loyal and suppliers are more cooperative. The community in which the company operates is more supportive and a business that is environmentally sensitive is likely to find the resources it needs in abundance. These economic advantages bolster the bottom line and the company’s investors are the ultimate beneficiaries. Everyone wins!

You say that globalisation is not a solution for every country’s economic problems. Can you tell us why?Globalisation is based primarily on open borders and free trade. It may not be the best answer for every country. Developing countries may need to follow more protectionist policies until their industries are able to compete. They, therefore, restrict trade and subsidise immature industries. In fact, no country is devoid of trade restrictions. In that sense, globalisation is thwarted to some degree by everyone.While there are many benefits to globalisation — living standards generally rise and poverty falls — some countries may be more concerned with quality of life and sustainability issues than immediate material benefits. Bhutan has made a conscious decision to focus on increasing Gross Domestic Happiness rather than Gross Domestic Product. The GDP of many countries has increased several-fold over the last five decades while the level of satisfaction in these countries has not improved. In addition, the gap between the rich and poor has widened as globalisation greatly rewards the skilled and educated and penalises those with fewer qualifications. So, how you view globalisation depends, to a considerable degree, on your goals and whether you have benefited or been hurt by the process.There is also a movement that is promoting self-sufficient “local-living economies” as a superior approach to globalisation. They believe globalisation’s emphasis on economic growth has greatly harmed the environment. By keeping trade local, the strain on the environment is minimised. Agricultural commodities and other goods don’t have to be transported long distances reducing the use of fossil fuels, and, therefore, global warming.

How can capitalism be conscious? Capitalism — an economic system based on private ownership of resources and free competitive markets — is value-neutral. Managers of an enterprise can make decisions which are conscious and considerate of the impact they have on stakeholders and society at large or they can make decisions that do not consider how they affect other members of the community. Many people — understandably but mistakenly — get upset at “businesses” that take selfish, short-sighted actions. Businesses don’t make decisions; people do. Businesses are nothing more than a group of people working together to achieve a common goal. People are sometimes unaware of how their decisions affect others or unconcerned about the effect of their actions. Too often, we think of self-interest only in the narrow sense rather than the view that is aligned with reality — we are all in this adventure together and no one gets to “go home” (return to God — our ultimate destination) until everyone is ready and able.

What are the business practices you suggest that Indian businesses should avoid?Too many businesses in the West are focused primarily on quarterly financial results and increasing shareholder value as soon as possible, regardless of long-term gains. Employees are often treated as costs to be reduced — to make quarterly profit goals — rather than assets to be enhanced. The environment, in too many cases, has suffered because of this short-term focus. And research and development is subject to counterproductive cutbacks which reduce innovation and technological advances.There are, of course, many companies in the west who take a longer-term approach. They spend a great deal on employee development and training and are concerned about employee satisfaction and fulfilment. However, fostering humility is not something even discussed let alone emphasised in western companies, yet I believe it is very important. Too often, managers exhibit a misplaced sense of pride when things go right and they feel the need to be rewarded for “what they did.” Spiritually-aware people know that every situation is the result of many unseen forces, a good many of which are not of our doing. They may be based on karma or the result of the effort of a guru, angelic beings or spirit guides. It is also important to know that universal powers are constantly at work in any creative process. It is important to understand the proper balance between the personality-level self and higher universal forces in any creative process including those in the workplace.

What makes a good leader?A good leader is commonly thought to be one who demonstrates qualities such as integrity, courage, flexibility, vision and passion. Two qualities often overlooked are self-knowledge and generosity, the latter being a by-product of humility and compassion.Self-knowledge enables people to understand themselves, especially their faults and weaknesses, and to begin to eliminate habits that might be detrimental to their leadership responsibilities. If we are not conscious of our negativities, we can’t change them and they will continue to hinder our effectiveness in the world as well as our spiritual development. Our ego would rather ignore any personality trait that is not flattering. It is not easy to admit frailties as we think others will think less of us. The truth is just the opposite. Other people have trouble relating to anyone who exhibits the mask of perfection. And none of us are perfect despite our best efforts on that front. Admitting our deficiencies is actually very liberating and rewarding; we feel better about ourselves when we expose what has been previously hidden and others are more inclined to connect with us.Being generous with those we lead is essential to building their self-esteem and self-fulfilment. This makes the whole organisation stronger and more effective. Leaders who are generous with their time and resources gain the full commitment of their followers. They willingly exert extra effort and gain the skills and confidence to make difficult decisions and assume the risks every organisation needs to take to grow and prosper. The universe rewards, in many ways, those who offer selfless service.poonam.jain1@timesgroup.com

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